The Difference between Blinds and Shutters and Choosing the Right One

• Posted on Evan Javier
• in Home Improvement
• on September 18, 2016
• No Comments.

You can choose to decorate your windows in many ways. You have the shades or curtains that allow you the maximum choice in type of fabric, design of the shades and structure. Installing blinds is another option with its distinctive styling. The third option is to install shutters. They can be expensive but these add lasting value, aesthetics and functionality to your house. For most people looking for style and convenience the choice narrows down to blinds or shutters.

Differences Between Blinds and Shutters

Blinds

If you want to control light, achieve highly contemporaneous looks and insulate the interior to some degree you will enjoy the convenience and flexibility of blinds. Compare blinds and shutters and you will see that blinds are available in horizontal or vertical types and these can be made of wood, vinyl or aluminum or even fabric as is found in Roman Blinds. Blinds can be rolled up and rolled down and these stay put at the desired height. You can adjust the louvers to let in light or block it. Blinds can be horizontal or vertical. In their favor, blinds offer more variety and convenience. You can pick:

• Light filtering blinds
• Blackout blinds
• Roman blinds
• Plantation blinds
• Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are light in weight, look contemporaneous and they allow great control of air and light flow. Suspended by cords, the blinds can be moved up or down to the desired height and the slats adjusted for the desired opening. Roman blinds, unlike Venetian style blinds are made of fabric and when raised, they are gathered into pleats. These also look stunning when horizontally installed, adding height to the room. The simplest blind is the fabric blind made of stiffened fabric that can be rolled up or down. Light filtering type blinds have a mesh and are usually paired with another blind, acting as a screen. The lowest in cost is the Venetian style blind but it may not offer complete air tight or light tight features and may not be energy efficient.

Shutters

Blinds and shutters may appear to be similar when one looks at the louvered construction. However, shutters have louvers or slats wider in width and the entire assembly is made to measure to fit a window opening. Shutters can also apply to external panels that may be hinged or the sliding type but when it comes to window dressing one usually talks about louvered shutters fitted to the frame inside as a mechanism to control light and air flow. It is desirable to choose shutters that will allow louvers of the top part and bottom part to be operated independently to control light and air. Blinds and shutters can be expensive, especially shutters made of woods such as cypress, mahogany or cedar for that exquisitely warm touch to interiors. On the other hand, you can choose vinyl or aluminum for the louvers as a low cost alternative. Powder coated aluminum is virtually maintenance-free and will not rust.

Which One Should You Choose for Your Windows?

It is a matter of taste. However, if energy efficiency and the ability to close the opening against light and air is an important consideration you will find that between blinds and shutters, the latter with the right type of louvers, is a better option. If it is looks then blinds offer more variety and may cost less besides being easier to install whereas shutters need to be custom made for the window opening.